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The Bible provides at least three ways by which a true messenger of God can be recognized: 1) Through his teaching; 2) whether he has biblical testimony; 3) the works he does/did.
THE GROWING PUBLIC skepticism and ambivalence toward organized religions—and religious preachers in particular—may be partly due to the embarrassments some of these self-described prophets have caused their constituents. Take for instance the sexual abuse perpetrated by not a few “men of the cloth”, the bold yet foolish predictions of some messianic crackpots on the exact date the world would end, and outrageous pronouncements every now and then of some self-proclaimed prophets, to cite a few.
These unfortunate experiences and frustrations with religious leaders, sadly, had produced some stereotypes—with many hastily dismissing preachers as fraud, and their loyal hordes of followers as members of a cult.
Similarly, many people are still surprised whenever we, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) in these last days, teach that we do believe that Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s Messenger in these last days. They think that this is a new doctrine or teaching that we only invented. The truth is, if they would only examine the teachings written in the Bible, they could prove to themselves that the commissioning of a messenger is an integral and primary teaching written in the Bible. This is not a new doctrine.
Nowadays when religious preachers are a dime a dozen, how can the true messenger of God be determined? The Lord Jesus Christ gives this answer:
“… ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. ‘If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. ‘He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.” (John 7:16-18 New King James Version)
The Savior taught that a true messenger of God can be identified through his doctrine: what he teaches is from God and that it is His glory that he seeks. Any preacher, therefore, who teaches anything that contradicts God’s doctrines cannot be a true messenger.
On His part, what did the Lord Jesus cite as proof that He was God-sent? Thus He declared:
“And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me … ‘You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me’.” (John 5:37, 39 nkjv)
True messengers of God, therefore, have biblical prophecies to back up their being sent by God.
Thirdly, true messengers are known by the works they do, as taught by Christ: “But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me” (John 5:36 nkjv).
To recapitulate, the Scriptures provide at least three ways by which a true messenger of God can be recognized: 1) Through his teaching; 2) whether he has biblical testimony; 3) the works he does/did. Let us now examine one by one if Brother Felix Manalo met all these standards or criteria.
Brother Felix Manalo may not be highly educated, or was he affluent. But for all his personal shortcomings, one thing that no one can accuse him of is he is teaching something that is unbiblical or anti-biblical. The doctrines he espoused—the absolute oneness of God who is the Father who created all things, immortal and invisible (John 17:1, 3; I Cor. 8:6; I Tim. 1:17); Christ being the Son of God (Matt. 3:17; John 8:40; Luke 24:38-39), all flesh and blood and not otherwise, as other preachers would insist; the necessity of membership in the true Church Of Christ (John 10:9 Revised English Bible; Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation; Acts 2:47; I Cor. 5:13), among others—all pass biblical scrutiny.
If there is any doctrine upheld by the Iglesia Ni Cristo that has no scriptural basis, we challenge everyone to come forward and show it, and we are confident all will fail to present any. This is because, as a true messenger of God, Brother Manalo did not dare add or take away from what is written (Deut. 12:32)—not even an iota or a dot (Matt. 5:18 Revised Standard Version)—for doing so will result in receiving the plagues and punishments of God, and losing one’s part in the Holy City (Rev. 22:18-19).
Brother Felix Manalo did not simply present himself and claim to be a God-sent preacher of the message of salvation, sans any basis from the Bible. Just like the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist, and Apostle Paul who cited passages from the Holy Book to back up their claim to being God’s messengers, Brother Manalo’s authority to preach rests on biblical testimonies.
First, let us go to the place of origin. Isaiah prophesied that God would be “Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country” whose work is to “bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off” (Isa. 46:11, 13 nkjv). The righteousness being referred to is the gospel, which is God’s power to salvation (Rom. 1:16- 17). Take note that the man referred to in the prophecy would come from a far country in the east, or the Far East.
Brother Felix Manalo who preached the gospel in our time hailed from the Philippines, a “country which stands almost at the geographical center of the Far East …” (Asia and the Philippines, p. 169). A related prophecy also described this country in the east as composed of islands:
“Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.” (Isa. 24:15 New International Version)
Now, let us go to the time element. When would God call this messenger from the Far East? God declared:
“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:9-10 nkjv, emphasis added)
God also mentioned the fruits of the messenger’s work—the people who would become beneficiaries of his preaching function—would come from the ends of the earth: “Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth …” (Isa. 43:6 nkjv).
When the Lord Jesus was asked by His disciples when the end of the age or end of the world would be, He told them that “…When you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Matt. 24:3, 33 nkjv). Hence, the ends of the earth is the period when the end of the world is near which will be marked by specific events:
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ‘For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ‘All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matt. 24:6-8 nkjv)
The war alluded to, which would involve nations and kingdoms—hence, global in scope and magnitude—was the First World War which broke out on July 27, 1914, exactly the same date when the Iglesia Ni Cristo which Brother Felix Manalo preached was officially registered with the Division of Archives, Patented Properties of Literature and Industrial Trade Marks.
There is also an underlying reason why this messenger was likened to a bird of prey, or ravenous bird in other translation: his work was to snatch God’s sons and daughters who were being held captives by the north and by the south:
“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth—” (Isa. 43:5-6 nkjv)
God’s sons and daughters from the east (place) and from the ends of the earth (time) are being held back by the north and by the south, which is why He called a man from the far east to snatch them and bring them to salvation (Jude 1:23).
The north and the south being referred to stand for Protestantism and Catholicism, as affirmed by historians: “It will be noted that it was the Teutonic north, which had resisted the Roman Empire, that broke away from the Catholic Church, while southern Europe retained the old faith. But in these days of religious toleration there are many Catholics in Protestant countries, and many Protestants in Catholic countries. In Germany, England, and the United States there is a mixture, but the Protestants greatly predominate” (Modern Times and the Living Past, p. 346).
This history book mentioned of a “Teutonic north” that broke away (or protested) from the Catholic Church, the “old faith” that was retained in southern Europe. Such Teutonic north represents Protestantism and the old faith that remained predominant in the south stands for Catholicism. Another book testified of this: “In the north the Protestants were in control—Lutheran churches in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the northern and central states of Germany, Calvinist or Reformed churches in Scotland, the Netherlands, Hesse, the Palatinate, and a few of the western German states. In the south the Catholics were in control— Spain, Italy, Austria, Bavaria, and elsewhere in southern Germany” (The Reformation, p. 366).
The three continents where Christianity is the predominant religion are Europe, North America and South America. The northern part of Europe is predominantly Protestant, while the southern half is Catholic. In North America— the United States and Canada— Protestantism predominates, while in South or Latin America, Catholicism rules. The Philippines is considered the only Christian nation in the whole of Asia, the biggest continent, due to the fact that three centuries of Spanish colonization had deeply implanted the Catholic faith, and another half century of American rule introduced the Protestant denominations.
Observably, anywhere we look where Christianity is the major religion, “north” represents Protestantism, while “south” represents Catholicism. It is from these two religions that the messenger from the Far East would “snatch” people to bring them near to God’s righteousness or the gospel and ultimately, their salvation—a feat that Brother Felix Manalo, as entrusted by God, accomplished.
What has transpired in the Iglesia Ni Cristo from its humble beginning up to its present triumphant posture is a living testament to the fulfilment of the biblical prophecies concerning Brother Felix Manalo and the Church Of Christ in these last days. Everything that happened in the Church did so not by chance or accident, but according to the design and plan of the Almighty.
Many of the Iglesia Ni Cristo members today, perhaps the majority, had not seen and heard Brother Manalo in person. But his memory will always be fondly remembered, for indeed, he is God’s messenger in these last days that through his commissioning they have been brought to God, to the true service, and to the hope of receiving salvation on Judgment Day.
This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.
